7 Celebs Whose Death Stopped Film Production

These films were stopped due to the death of an actor!

Not all movies make it to the big screen. Sometimes the movies are stopped before being completed because of the death of an actor. While the death of an actor is a big loss to their fan base, it also affects the production company. At Trendzomatic, we have compiled a list of actors who died before the completion of their films and because of whom the production of the films had to be stopped.

7) Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

The Hunger Games franchise is perhaps one of the most famous movie franchises in the world right now. The film presents a perfect representation of a dytsopian future where everything that we take for granted is a matter of life and death. Even the right to life is more of a privilege rather than a right.

The last film in the series was interrupted by the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman, the Oscar-winning actor who appeared in successful films like Scent of a Woman and The Master. Hoffman had a drugs problem and he knew it well. He had been fighting against it but somehow he relapsed and died of overdose.

His death shook the world and made the world more aware of the dangers of drugs. His death also stopped the production of the film briefly because Hoffman still had to shoot some of his scenes. The writers rewrote some of Hoffman’s scenes and later used computer generated effects to add him in some important scenes of the movie.

6) Oliver Reed – Gladiator

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about the Roman era? I’m sure Gladiator somehow makes a faint appearance in your head. One of the most amazing films of the 21st century Gladiator not only had tragedies on-screen but behind the scenes the tragic death of Oliver Reed affected the films as well. Reed who died of an alcohol induced heart attack died before completing his scenes.

His death forced the crew to take a break and prompted the writers to rewrite his role in the film and to utilize the scenes he had shot before his death, the writers decided on killing of his character in the movie. The movie went on the become one of the most critically acclaimed films of all times and won the Best Picture award at the Oscars.

5) Bruce Lee – Game of Death

Bruce Lee is considered as one of the finest action heroes of the 20th century. He redefined action sequences in films and is always mentioned alongside martial arts. Bruce Lee died during the production of a film he was directing. Game of Death was between production and only half and hour of footage was shot for the film. Before Bruce Lee could complete the film, he died of some complications in his brain. To honor his memory, the footage was released but not everyone was happy with this release.

4) Heath Ledger – The Imagination of Dr. Parnassus

Heath Ledger is known for his portrayal of The Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight which is evidently the most famous of the films in The Dark Knight trilogy. Many people consider The Dark Knight to be Heath Ledger’s last film but only a few know that when he died of a drug overdose in 2008, he was filming another film called The Imagination of Dr. Parnassus.

Following the trend that we’ve seen in the films covered above, the crew was determined to finish the film and with the help of Heath Ledger’s friends which included the new Joker, Jared Leto and perhaps the world’s most famous pirate, Johnny Depp. The film was eventually dedicated to the memory of Heath Ledger.

3) Brandon Lee – The Crow

As if Bruce Lee’s death was not enough for his family, his son suffered a similar fate. During the filming of The Crow, the film Brandon Lee would always be remembered for, there was an action sequence which used real guns. Unfortunately, for Brandon, there was still a metal bullet in the gun instead of artificial bullets usually used in filming such scenes. Brandon got hit in his chest and was rushed to the hospital where he died of his wounds.

2) Marilyn Monroe – Something’s Got to Give

Admit it. You came here to read about Marilyn Monroe. The sweetheart of the twentieth century had all the fame any woman could dream of. Her beauty was the talk of the town and everybody loved her. Even now, the renowned physicist Stephen Hawking often talks about how he used to admire Marilyn Monroe. Much of Marilyn’s fame comes from her tragic death which like Philip Seymour Hoffman was a consequence of her addiction. Both of these figures were good at what they did but met the same end.

Marilyn was supposed to finish this film but she died days before she was to return on set. Her death turned her into a legend despite the world being aware of her problems with drugs and alcohol. The film was never completed and she left the world heartbroken.

1) Paul Walker – Fast and Furious 7

I know that this is what probably what came to your mind when you read the topic. The death of Paul Walker made the headlines and affected the whole Fast and Furious family. The fans were devastated. This is one of the most famous celebrity deaths which stopped film production for a while. Paul Walker had been in the Fast and Furious franchise ever since the first film and was loved by all his fans. His portrayal of Brian O’Connor in the series earned him a lot of praise from the fans.

In 2013, the film had to be delayed for over an year following the death of Paul Walker. This time was utilized by the writers of the film to rewrite the script and also allowed Paul Walker’s friends and family to mourn his death. Eventually Paul Walker’s brothers were used in the film for some sequences. Furious 7 became one of the highest grossing films of all time.